Chelsea Wage Structure Under Scrutiny
Chelsea’s approach to building their squad has been heavily criticized since Todd Boehly took over in 2022. Boehly spent a massive amount of money on new Chelsea stars, which many saw as irresponsible spending. However, Chelsea’s strong finish to the season, which secured them a European spot, muted some of the criticism.
Signing Young Players with Low Wages
One of Boehly’s strategies involved signing young players to long-term contracts with relatively low salaries. This strategy has resulted in a wage structure that is out of balance. Some of the Chelsea stars who were signed before or shortly after Boehly arrived are earning significantly more than some of the younger players who are now considered to be more important to the team.
Similarly, according to Spotrac, other young Chelsea stars brought in by Boehly on lengthy contracts (6, 7, 8, or even 9 years) are receiving salaries in the same ballpark as Palmer’s £3.9 million annually. These players include Axel Disasi (£4.1 million), Benoit Badiashile (£4.7 million) and Nicolas Jackson (£3.4 million).
Top Scorer Earns Less Than Expected
For example, Chelsea’s top scorer, Cole Palmer, is only making £75,000 per week. This places him in the middle of the pack in terms of earnings, despite his significant contributions to the team this season. Palmer’s salary reflects his status before he was transferred from Manchester City for £42.5 million, rather than his current value as a key player for Chelsea.
This approach creates a clear imbalance compared to some of the existing players. Ben Chilwell, for instance, signed in 2020, rakes in almost double the salary of veteran defender Thiago Silva (£10.4 million vs £5.7 million annually). Chilwell’s weekly wage of £200,000 is particularly striking considering Silva is widely regarded as Chelsea’s best defender, even though he’s leaving the club.
Fringe Chelsea Stars on High Wages
There are also some Chelsea stars who are earning high salaries despite not playing a significant role for the team. For example, defender Malang Sarr is Chelsea’s ninth-highest earner, even though he has barely played this season. Sarr is expected to leave the club in the summer.
Sterling’s High Wages and Potential Exit
Of Chelsea stars, Raheem Sterling is currently Chelsea’s highest earner, with a weekly wage of £325,000. However, Sterling’s playing time has decreased significantly this season, and he has only scored seven goals. Chelsea may decide to sell Sterling in order to free up money in their wage bill and comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Restructuring the Wage Bill
Chelsea is likely to make significant changes to their wage structure in the coming months. The club is expected to try to sell some of their fringe players and give raises to some of their younger players, such as Palmer. The club is also likely to try to resolve the contract situation of midfielder Conor Gallagher, whose deal expires in a year.
